Effects of visualized feedback on physical activity in community-dwelling stroke survivors: a multiple-baseline study

To explore the feasibility and preliminary effects of visualised feedback, compared with numerical feedback, on physical activity levels in community-dwelling stroke survivors. A multiple baseline design was conducted with three community-dwelling outpatients with stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to baseline lengths of 6, 12, or 18 daily sessions, followed by a 6-session intervention. During baseline, participants received numeric feedback and collaboratively set an action plan of “adding 10 min/day of total physical activity (TPA).” During the intervention, numerical data were supplemented with heat-map visualisations showing activity intensity and timing. The primary outcome was TPA (≥1.6 METs). Effect sizes were calculated using trend-adjusted Tau-U, non-overlap of all pairs, and percentage of all non-overlapping data. Comprehensibility, acceptability, and utility of feedback were assessed using Likert scales. All participants demonstrated increased median TPA during the intervention period compared to baseline. The effect sizes indicated a small change in case 1 and moderate changes in cases 2 and 3. Participants rated visualised feedback as more comprehensible and useful than numeric feedback, with Cases 2 and 3 reporting higher acceptability. Preliminary findings may support the feasibility and potential added action planning value with visualised feedback on physical activity in community-dwelling stroke survivors.